16 killed in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, June 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and four others injured in two U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan early Monday morning, reported local Urdu TV channel Dawn.

Two U.S. drones targeted a house and vehicle suspected of carrying militants in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, a restive tribal area at Pakistan-Afghanistan border which the United States believes as a stronghold of militants involved in launching attacks on NATO forces posted in Afghanistan.

The strike came at about 5:20 a.m. local time and according to media reports four drones are still hovering over the area creating panic among the residents.

Identities of the victims are not known yet.

Monday morning's drone strike is the third of its kind over the last three days.

Early on Sunday morning, at about 8:00 a.m. local time, U. S. drones fired four missiles at a militants' hideout in neighboring South Waziristan area, leaving ten people killed including two suspected militants and several others injured.

On Saturday morning, four people were killed when U.S. drones attacked a house in Ghowa Khowa area of South Waziristan.

Anti-U.S. sentiment runs high in the Pakistani nation basically stemming from suspected U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's border region which are regarded as a violation of the country's sovereignty and have killed hundreds of innocent civilians.

Pakistani authorities repeatedly condemned U.S. drone strikes in its territory but the United States has never stopped such attacks in Pakistan's tribal area.

At least 151 people have been killed in 20 drone strikes launched in northwest tribal area of Pakistan since the beginning of this year.